Whilst the SAG-AFTRA strike in the film and TV industry is well into its third month, the organised industrial action is set to expand its battle to another front.
SAG-AFTRA members have voted 98.32% in favor of a strike authorization against the video game industry, with 34,687 members casting ballots (around 27.5% of eligible voters).
The results do not guarantee a work stoppage will occur, but it does give union negotiators the ability to call a strike if necessary during ongoing negotiations over the new Interactive Media Agreement.
Negotiations on that particular agreement restart tomorrow, with the union saying in a posting on its page: “The outcome of the IMA negotiations will determine whether our members working in interactive media can continue earning a professional living doing the job they love”
The new contract covers voice, motion capture and stunt work on video games, as well as other performances. Talks have been ongoing for nearly a year with a group of employers across major games companies like Activision, EA, Epic, Insomniac, Take 2, WB Games and more.
The union aims to improve compensation for their performers working under the contract, regulate the use of AI for performances in video games, and implement greater safety measures for both on-camera and voice artists.
Source: THR
